Device for unloading cars



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' J. L. BRYANT. I DEVICE FOR UNLOADING CARS.

No. 434,375. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. L. BRYANT. DBVIGB FOR UNLOADING CARS.

Patented Aug 12, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATE T QFFICE.

JOHN L. BRYANT, or IIILLsDALE, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To WILLIAM G.BRYANT, on FLINT, AND DANIEL E. BRYANT, or LANSING, MICHIGAN.

DEVICE FOR UNLOADING CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,375, dated August12, 1890.

Application filed April 28, 1890. Serial No. 349,730. (llomodeh) To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. BRYANT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hillsdale, in the county of Hills and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices forUnloading Cars, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a device forunloading'cars of the kind in which there is a tilting plat-- form inconnection with a stationary track, from which the loaded car may be runupon the platform and tilted with the platform for the purpose ofdumping the load.

The object of my inventin is to so construct the device that cars of theordinary construction. such as are generally used for transporting coal,maybe unloaded by tilting the plat- 1forzln sufficiently to one side todump the whole To this end my invention consists in the peculiarconstruction, arrangement, and operation of the tilting platform and ofthe device for firmly securing the car thereon so that it will be heldfirmly against any displacement or strain and quickly and expeditiouslyemp tied of its load, all as more fully hereinafter described, and shownin the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a side elevation ofthe tilting platform with the car in position thereon and secured readyto be dumped. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device as shown inFig. 1. Fig: 3 is a cross-section through the dump: ing-platform withthe car secured thereon as .in the act of dumping. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of one of the securing devices detached. Fig. 5 is anelevation of the anti-friction supports under the tilting platform; andFig.6 is a diagram section through the tilting platform and car, showingmore especially the movable props under the tilting platform.

A is the tilting platform, supported on trunnions B B at opposite endsbetween the stationary portions 0 O of a railway-track, by means ofwhich the cars are run onto and from the platform. This tilting platformis of suitable length to admit one or more cars, and is normallysupported from below against any ter of the platform. One or both rowsof'props are movably secured to permit the tilting of the platform.Tothis end I preferably hinge the props at the lower end to suitablebedtimbers E, and secure in suitable bearings near the lower end of theprops of each row a rock-shaft F, which is provided with rockarms Fonefor each prop-and which slidingly engages with its free end through aguide-bearing F on the prop. One end of this shaft is provided with ahand-lever F and a counter-weightF is applied to this lever, all soarranged thatby the tilting of the handlever F to one side the whole rowof props under one side of the tilting platform is simultaneously drawnout from under and automatically brought back in position again, whenthe hand-lever is released by the action of the counter-weight.

Underneath the platform are secured two compartmentsG, which are filledwith some suitable ballastsuch as iron ore, sand, &c. of sufficientweight to impart to the platform the tendency to maintain its normalposition. These compartments are preferably built of circular shape, andserve at the same time as frames for the circular racks H,secured nearthe edge of these compartments. These circular racks engage withgear-wheels I, secured upon the longitudinal shaft J, journaled belowthe center of the platform upon a suitable bed-frame. This shaft J isprovided with an operating device at one end for revolving itsuch as thegear-wheel K, which meshes with the pinion K through which motion may beimparted by the crank-handle K These compartments G are preferablyarranged below the places where the trucks of the car rest on theplatform, and form additional means to support the load by beingprovided with circumferential flanges L, which rest upon anti-frictionrollers M, supported upon the bed underneath, there being preferably apair of such rollers on opposite sides of the longitudinal center, andthe gear-wheels I are also provided with anti-friction flanges to engageon these flanges L. Thus in turnin g the tilt-ing platform the weight ofthe platform and the car supported thereon is at all times supportedupon the anti-friction devices described.

To firmly hold and secure the car upon the platform againstanyaccidental displacement in dumping, I provide peculiar securing devices.Two cross-bars N are laid over the top of the car and are secured attheir outer ends by shackles to vertical posts firmly secured to theplatform upon the sides of the car. These posts are provided with meansfor drawing down the cross-bar N, so as to firmly bind upon thecar-platform, and to this end each post is constructed in two parts 0and P, the part P being made hollow to form a guide-bearing for the part0, which carries the shackle. By means of a lever Q, pivotally securedto the part 0, and the lockingdog R the ends of the cross-bar N may befirmly drawn down and secured. Lateral motion is prevented by holdingthe sides of the car between binding-blocks S, which are actuated byscrew-power through the handscrews T.

In practice it will be seen that after the car is run upon the platformand the cross-bars N firmly secured on top of the car and the screws '1applied to bind against the sides of the car, the car is so firmly heldagainst displacement that it may be tilted to any desired anglenecessary to empty the load, the construction being such that the carmaybe then tilted to an angle beyond ninety degrees, this tilting beingaccomplished by revolving the shaft J through the cranlclever K, or incase of heavier loads by a suitable motive power connected to said shaftJ. It will be seen that at all times the ballast prevents the load frombeing precipitately tipped over, and at the same time it helps toquickly restore the parts to their normal position after the dumping isaccomplished.

To be enabled at all times to accomplish the object with cars of varyingloads, I provide means for securing additional ballast to the sides ofthe platform. This ballast I preferably carry in the form of a box U,secured by means of chains V to the side of the compartments, all soarranged that this outside weight may be left off or increased at will,as circumstances may require.

It is obvious that the whole device has to be at a necessary distanceabove the ground to provide room for dumping.

The platform may be constructed to dump to either side or to one sideonly, as desired, and obvious modifications may be made in myconstruction to provide for the dumping of different kinds of cars.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. A tilting platform mounted ontrunnions and provided with compartments constituting supports for thesame for containing ballast, substantially as described.

2. In a device for the purpose described, a tilting platform providedwith means for securing cars thereto, platform supporting compartmentssecured to the under side of said platform and filled with ballast, andoutside ballast detachably secured to the sides of the platform,substantially as described.

3. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with thetilting platform supported on trunnions, of the circular compartments G,secured to the under side of the platform and containing ballast, acircular rack secured directly to and supported by the compartments, andmeans for tilting the platform, substantially as described.

4. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with thetilting platform, of securing devices for the car, consisting of theupright posts secured upon the platform in proximity to the sides of acar upon said platform and the cross-bar, and means on the post foradjusting the cross-bar vertically and securing it in place,substantiallyas described.

5. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with atilting platform, of securing devices for a car, consisting of thecross-bars and means for adjustably securing them over the top of thecar, and adj 11stable binding -blocks adapted to be forced against thesides of the car, substantially as described.

6. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with atilting platform, of securing devices for a car on said platform, thesame consisting of the cross-bar N and the posts secured upon theplatform constructed in two parts 0 and P, slidingly engaging with eachother, the tighteninglever Q, the dog R, and the binding-blocks S,actuated by tightening-screws T, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

7. A tilting platform having one or more circular ballast-compartmentsconnected therewith and extending beneath the same, racks on theperiphery of the compartments, and means engaging the racks for movingthe platform, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnessesthis 8th day of April, 1890.

JOHN L. BRYANT.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODooHER'rY, P. M. IIULBERT.

